Remote underwater flowline connection

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus related thereto for remotely connecting flowlines to an underwater wellhead. A connector support cradle is mounted to a well conductor. A guide system is provided to guide into place a remotely operable underwater tree, flowline loops, and connector tree hub which is connected to the flowline loops. The tree hub is guided and latched into one end of the support cradle. Then one end of underwater flowlines attached to a flowline connector hub is lowered with the aid of the guide system into engagement with the opposite end of the support cradle. Finally, a hydraulically operable connector is guided into the cradle between the tree hub and flowline hub. Pressure is supplied to the connector through conduits to cause the connector to sealingly engage the hubs providing flow communication between the tree and flowlines.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Luis Carnejo, [56] References Cited Union City, NJ. UNITED STATES PATENTS :1] Appl. No. 825,546 2,375,714 5/1945 Wild 165/63 [22 Filed May 19, 1969 2,758,821 8/1956 Pruehs 165/63 [45] Patented May 11, 1971 Primary Examiner-Edward J. Michael [73] Assignee One-third to Jose Bovantes, Fort Lee, N-J., Attorney-Alexander Mencher and one-third to Orlando Martines, Union City, New J y- 1 ABSTRACT: The invention relates to refrigerator structure embodying means therein for thawing out frozen or rel l THAWING'OUT MEANS FOR REFRIGERATORS frigerated foodstuffs within selected time intervals and com- 4 claimsJnlawillg Figsprises an accessible chamber within the interior of the refrigerator, provided with adjustable and controlled heating [52] U.S. Cl 165/63; means to effectuate an accelerated defrosting operation. 62/276 1 Means are provided to cause air circulation within the said [51] Int. Cl F25d 21/00 chamber for oxygenation and prevention of heat build-up [50] 'Field of Search 165/63; to approximate defrosting under the normal ambient con- 62/ 276, 377 ditions present in conventional defrosting.

22o 10a 24a 9 229 6-2 242 x/ 22 32 246 2300 L T 13/ 2 a 225 *2 2306 T 226 2!! 252 2:5 I l 1Q as 243 250 255g THAWING-OUT MEANS FOR REFRIGERATORS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The main object of the invention resides in the structural provision of a heating compartment within the interior of a refrigerator to accelerate the time required for thawing out foodstuffs when either frozen or at lower temperatures to accommodate requirements for cooking or consuming purposes. l-leretofore, the thawing-out procedure used in the home was to withdraw the refrigerated foodstuff and expose same to ambient temperatures and conditions of the kitchen or other room, sometimes a long or unsanitary process. The invention herein is intended to overcome these objections in a simple, inexpensive, efficient and safe manner.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means to add thawing-out structures in present and to add same in future manufactured refrigerators.

Thus, there is provided a compartment inside the refrigerator provided with or without a frozen food locker to be accessible either by a door directly outside the refrigerator or by an inside door accessible in the refrigerator compartment. A compartment inside the freezer locker would not be practical owing to the more contrasting temperatures involved.

The thawing-out or heater compartment is adapted to be provided with a heater energized either electrically or by gas if the refrigerator is gas operated; and the heater may have a temperature range controllable by a dial or the like located outside or in the refrigerator locker, said heater also being capable of cooperating with a conventional time control device.

Said heater compartment may be located at any selective position in the interior of the refrigerator depending upon the general design and functional requirements thereof, and is provided with ducting means to the exterior for maintenance of controllable temperatures and for oxygenation purposes.

Accompanying this specification is a drawing showing a preferred form of the invention wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator embodying the invention and being partially broken-away; and

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. 1 across the plane 2-2 thereof.

In accordance with the invention and the preferred form shown, refrigerator cabinet is shown having a door 10a and having a refrigerator or cooling food storage area compartment 11, a frozen food compartment 12 and a compartment 13 to house the mechanisms required for temperature lowering.

In refrigerator compartment 11 an insulated door 14 gives access to a separate compartment 15 having a bottom with insulated walls and having an access opening in the insulated wall 15a and top and rear insulated walls 15b and 15c afforded as shown by the cabinet 10 and in which is located a heater element 16 such as a Calrod unit. Heater leads 17 and 18 are brought from connections made directly to convenient points in the incoming power supply inside compartment 13. Leads 17 and 18 are preferably out of sight at the rear of the refrigerator but accessible for servicing. One lead as shown is interrupted for a series connection through a suitable voltage control device 19 shown in the food storage area or space mounted on a cabinet wall for heater temperature adjustment, and optionally a timer 20 may be introduced in series with the circuit adjacent to the voltage control device 19.

Heater adjustment may be made in accordance with an I accompanying chart or booklet which will list temperature and time for defrosting different foodstuffs according to the nature of the food and the bulk of the food package; that is, its general ratio of surface to depth penetration.

To maintain the temperature change in thefoodstuff under It is understood that minor changes in the structure and operation of the device described may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I Claim:

1. In a refrigerator, the combination comprising a cabinet front thereof and at least one insulated door for said opening leading into a food storage space, an independent heating compartment for time-controlled thawing out of frozen and refrigerated foodstuffs formed within said food storage space and comprised of thermal insulated walls and an insulated door for access thereto, said heating compartment containing heating means, a controlling device for said heating means, convection ducts to the atmosphere to maintain heating temperatures and to oxygenate 'the said heating compartment.

2. In a refrigerator as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least the top, end and rear walls of the heating compartment is afforded by the said insulated walls of t l 1e c abi net.

3. In a refrigerator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the access door to the heating compartment is located in the food storage space.

4. In a refrigerator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the access door to the heating-compartment is located in the food storage area and wherein said controlling device for the heating means is located in the food storage space and mounted on a wall of the cabinet.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,578,075

Dated May 11, 1971 Inventor(s) Luis Camejo It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet cancel the-illustrative drawing and insert the following:

FORM F o-105C (10-69) uscoMM-oc 60376-F'69 a U 5 GOVERNMENT PRINYING OFFICE IBIS D-366-35| UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 57 ,075 Dated May 11. 1971 n e fls) Luis Cameio It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Signed and sealed this 24th day of October 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM USCOMM-DC wave-ps9 U 5 GOVERNMENT RIHTlNG OFFICE [9.9 O-l'l-Sll 

1. A method of connecting an underwater flowline to a tree assembly positioned in a wellhead near the floor of a body of water, said tree assembly having a flow connection thereon, said method comprising the steps of: independently of said tree assembly, guiding connector means through said body of water into a space between one end of said flowline and said flow connection, said one end of said flowline and said flow connection being in coaxial alignment and remotely causing said connector means to engage said flowline and said flow connection for fluidtight flow communication therebetween without disturbing the position of said flowline and said flow connection.
 2. The method of claim 1 in which said tree assembly is remotely guided through said body of water and positioned in said wellhead independently of said flowline.
 3. The method of claim 1 in which said flowline is guided through said body of water independently of said tree assembly and positioned for nonengaging alignment with said flow connection independently of said tree assembly.
 4. A method of connecting an underwater production wellhead positioned near the floor of a body of water to an underwater production flowline comprising: providing a first flow connection means on said production wellhead, providing a second flow connection means on said underwater production flowline in coaxial alignment with said first flow connection means, remotely guiding from above the surface of said body of water, flowline connector means down through said body of water into close proximity with said first and second flow connection means, and remotely engaging said first and second flow connection means with said flowline connector means in fluidtight flow communication therebetween without disturbing the position of said first and second flow connection means.
 5. The method of claim 4 in which said flowline connector means is guided down through said body of water along a guide connection established between said wellhead and the space above the surface of said body of water.
 6. The method of claim 4 in which said engagement of said first and said second flow connection means is accomplished through telescopic expansion of a portion of said connector means.
 7. A method of installing production equipment at an underwater wellhead positioned near the ocean floor, said method comprising: guiding a production tree assembly down through a body of water into register with an underwater wellhead, said tree having a fluid flowline connection thereon, seating said production tree assembly on and securing it to said underwater wellhead, remotely guiding, from above the surface of the water, the end of an underwater production flowline down through said body of water and securing said end near to said underwater wellhead in coaxial alignment with the end of said fluid flowline connection, remotely guiding, from above the surface of the water, flowline connector means down through said body of water into close proximity with said fluid flowline connection and said end of an underwater production flowline, and remotely causing said connector means to telescopically engage said fluid flowline connection and said end of an underwater flowline without disturbing the position of either and providing fluidtight flow communication therebetween.
 8. A method of installing production equipment at an underwater wellhead positioned near the ocean floor, said method comprising: establishing a guide connection between said wellhead and the space above the surface of a body of water along which equipment may be guided to said wellhead, guiding a production tree assembly down through said body of water along said guide connection into register with said wellhead, said production tree having a fluid flowline connection extending therefrom, seating said production tree assembly on and securing it to said underwater wellhead, guiding the end of an underwater production flowline along said guide connection and securing it in close proximity with and in coaxial alignment with said fluid flowline connection, guiding flowline connector means along said guide connection into close proximity with said fluid flowline connection and said end of an underwater production flowline, and through remote means, engaging said flowline connection and said end of an underwater production flowline with said connector for fluidtight flow communication therebetween without disturbing the position of said flowline connection or said end of an underwater production flowline.
 9. The method of claim 8 in which said engagement of said flowline connection and said production flowline end is accomplished through telescopic expansion of said connector means.
 10. A method of installing an underwater flowline for connection to an underwater production wellhead positioned near the floor of a body of water comprising: establishing a guide connection between said wellhead and the space above the surface of said body of water, affixing, above the surface of said water, connection means to the end of a flowline, guiding said flowline and said connection means down through said body of water along said guide connection into register with support means fixed at said wellhead, said support means acting as a fulcrum on which a portion of said connection means comes to rest, applying a downward force to the end of said connection means to cause it to pivot on said fulcrum into fixed engagement with said support means, guiding a flowline connector down through said body of water along said guide connection into register with said connection means and flow exit means extending from said underwater production wellhead, and remotely engaging said connection means and said flow exit means with said flowline connector for fluidtight flow communication therebetween and without altering the relative positions of said connection means, and said flow exit means.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said downward force is applied through a spring of pipe other than said flowline passing from above the surface of said body of water downwardly to said connection means.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein said guiding and said engagement of said connection means is accomplished through remotely operable means, said remotely operable means being remotely disengageable and reengageable with said connection means for subsequent removal thereof.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein sections of said flowline are coupled together by flexible means to reduce the magnitude of said downward force applied to the end of said connection means.
 14. The method of claim 13 in which said flexible means comprises ball and socket joint means, said ball means and socket means being nonaxially rotatable with respect to each other.
 15. A method of removing production equipment from an underwater well which includes a production tree assembly with a fluid flowline connection thereon, an underwater production flowline, and flowline connector means providing fluidtight flow communication between said fluid flowline connection and one end of said production flowline which are in coaxial aLignment, said method comprising the steps of, remotely disengaging said connector means from said fluid flowline connection and said production flowline without disturbing the position of either, and independently of said tree assembly and said flowline, raising said connector means to the space above a body of water.
 16. The method of claim 15 and the additional steps of, detaching said production tree assembly from said underwater well, and independently of said flowline, raising said production tree assembly to the space above said body of water.
 17. The method of claim 15 and the additional step of, independently of said production tree assembly, raising said flowline to the space above said body of water for replacement, removal, or repair thereof.
 18. The method of claim 15 and the additional steps of, remotely guiding said connector means back down through said body of water into the space vacated by said connector means on its removal, and reengaging said flowline connection and said production flowline with said connector means in fluidtight flow communication therebetween and without disturbing the position of either.
 19. Apparatus for remotely connecting the ends of a pair of conduits submerged within a body of water for fluidtight flow communication therebetween, said apparatus comprising: first connection means connected to the end of one of said conduits, second connection means connected to the end of the other of said conduits and in fixed coaxial spaced relationship with said first connection means, and connector means adapted to be lowered through said body of water between the ends of said first and second connection means and in juxtapositional relationship therewith, said connector means comprising engagement means adapted for remote operation to engage said first and second connection means for fluidtight flow communication therebetween without disturbing said fixed spaced relationship.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, and guide means in fixed relationship with said first and second connection means engageable with said connector means to guide said connector means from above said body of water to said juxtapositional relationship with said connection means.
 21. The apparatus of claim 19 in which a portion of said engagement means is telescopically extendable to engage said connection means in said fluidtight flow communication therewith.
 22. The apparatus of claim 19 and a remote power source communicable with said connector means for remote operation thereof.
 23. Apparatus for remotely coupling the ends of a pair of conduits submerged in a body of water, said apparatus comprising: guide means stationarily fixed near the floor of said body of water and extending upwardly to the space above said body of water, first coupling means secured to the end of one of said conduits, second coupling means secured to the end of the other of said conduits and in coaxial alignment with said first coupling means, connector means engageable with said guide means and adapted to be lowered from above said body of water to a point in juxtaposition with said first and second coupling means, said connector means comprising slidable engagement means, remotely operable to engage said first and second coupling means for fluidtight flow communication therebetween without disturbing the relative positions of said first and second coupling means.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23 in which said connector means comprises flow passage means slidably received within a portion of said connector means for extension to sealingly engage other passage means in said first and second coupling means so that fluidtight flow communication exists between said pair of conduits.
 25. The apparatus of claim 23 in which said engagement means comprises latch means adapted to engage said first and second coupling means, said latch means lying within the minimum distance between saiD coupling means before said engagement and being extendable on said engagement to contact a portion of said first and second coupling means in disengageable engagement therewith.
 26. The apparatus of claim 23 and remote power means connected to said connector to move said engagement means into said contact with said first and second coupling means.
 27. Apparatus for remotely connecting underwater production equipment to a wellhead submerged in a body of water, said apparatus comprising: guide means affixed to said wellhead and extending upwardly through said body of water to a working position above said body of water, production tree means engageable with said guide means and adapted to be guided thereby into register with said wellhead, said tree means comprising flow exit means, connection means affixed to said tree means and said wellhead for remote connection thereof in fluid flow relationship therebetween, first coupling means affixed to said flow exit means, second coupling means attached to one end of an underwater flowline, said second coupling means being engageable with said guide means and adapted to be lowered into stationary juxtapositional relationship with said first coupling means with a space therebetween, flowline connector means engageable with said guide means and adapted to be guided thereby into said space independently of said flowline, said connector means being remotely operable for engaging said first and second coupling means in fluidtight flow communication therebetween and without disturbing the stationary juxtapositional relationship between said first and second coupling means.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27 in which said first and second coupling means comprise hublike means with flow passages therethrough and flange means on the adjacent ends of each coupling means.
 29. The apparatus of claim 28 in which said connector means comprises passage means and latch means slidably mounted in a portion of said connector means for engagement with said coupling flange means.
 30. Apparatus for connecting an underwater flowline to a wellhead with flow exit means submerged in means, body of water, said apparatus comprising: support means affixed near the floor of said body of water in fixed relationship with said wellhead, first coupling means connected in flow relationship with said flow exit means and supported by said support means, second coupling means connected to one end of said underwater flowline in flow relationship therewith, said second coupling means and said flowline end being adapted for lowering through said body of water to a position whereby at least one end of said second coupling means contacts a portion of said support means at a contact point thereon, said second coupling means and said flowline end being adapted to pivot about said contact point into coaxial alignment with said first coupling means leaving a space therebetween, and coupling connector means adapted to be remotely lowered through said body of water independently of said first and second coupling means into said space to provide fluidtight flow communication therebetween.
 31. The apparatus of claim 30 in which said coupling connector comprises flow means telescopically mounted therein, said flow means being adapted to extendably engage in sealing flow relationship flow passages in said first and second coupling means.
 32. The apparatus of claim 30 in which said coupling connector means comprises engagement means slidingly retained in a portion of said connector means, said engagement means being adapted for remote operation to engage a portion of said first and second coupling means.
 33. The apparatus of claim 32 in which said engagement means comprises cylinder and piston means, pressure operable to cooperate with said engagement means for said remote operation to engage said first and second coupling means.
 34. The apparatus of claim 31 in which said coupling cOnnector means comprises pressure operable cylinder and piston means cooperating with said flow means to extendably engage said flow passages in said first and second coupling means.
 35. Apparatus for connecting an underwater flowline to flow exit means in a wellhead submerged in a body of water, said apparatus comprising: first coupling means connected to said flow exit means stationarily fixed near said wellhead, second coupling means connected to the end of said flowline, said second coupling means being adapted for lowering through said body of water into a stationary position coaxially aligned with said first coupling means with a space therebetween, coupling connector means adapted to be remotely lowered through said body of water independently of said first and second coupling means into said space, said connector means having flow passages therethrough and engagement means adapted for remote operation from a retracted position to a position engaging said first and second coupling means for fluidtight flow communication therebetween.
 36. The apparatus of claim 35 in which said flowline comprises pipe sections connected by flexible joints to reduce the resistance to said coaxial alignment of said first and second coupling means.
 37. The apparatus of claim 36 in which said flexible joints are adapted to prevent axial rotation of adjacent pipe sections relative to each other.
 38. The apparatus of claim 37 in which said flexible joints comprise limiting means to limit coaxial disalignment of adjacent said pipe sections to a degree small enough to permit passage of in-line flow tools.
 39. The apparatus of claim 37 in which said joint comprises ball and socket means.
 40. The apparatus of claim 39 in which said ball and socket means comprise cooperating key and key slot means to prevent said relative axial rotation of said adjacent joints.
 41. Apparatus for remotely connecting an underwater wellhead to an underwater flowline in a body of water, said apparatus comprising, flow exit means connected to said wellhead, first coupling means connected to said flow exit means, second coupling means connected to one end of said flowline, said coupling means and end of said flowline being adapted for lowering through said body of water into a predetermined position relative to said first coupling means with a space therebetween, connector means adapted to be lowered through said body of water independently of said first and second coupling means into said space between said coupling means, said connector means having flow passage means therethrough and engagement means thereon, said engagement means being remotely operable to engage a portion of each of said coupling means for fluidtight flow communication therebetween, without altering said space between said coupling means.
 42. The apparatus of claim 41 in which said engagement means is adapted for remote disengagement from said coupling means, without disturbing their positions, and for removal from said body of water independent of said first and second coupling means.
 43. The apparatus of claim 44 in which said connector means comprises cylinder means and piston means reciprocally mounted therein, said cylinder means being connected to a pressure source to translate operating movement of said engagement means through said piston means.
 44. The apparatus of claim 43 in which said second coupling means and said end of flowline are adapted for remote removal from said body of water independent of said first coupling means.
 45. Apparatus for remotely connecting an underwater flowline to flow exit means in a wellhead submerged in a body of water, said apparatus comprising: first coupling means connected in flow relationship with said flow exit means in a stationary position, second coupling means connected to one end of said underwater flowline in flow relationship therewith, said second coupling means and said flowline end being Adapted for lowering through said body of water to a position of support in close proximity with said first coupling means, pivot means affixed at said support position, said second coupling means and said end of said flowline being adapted to pivot about said pivot means into coaxial alignment with said first coupling means, and connector means independently lowerable from above said body of water to a position between the ends of said first and second coupling means, said connector means being remotely operable to engage the ends of said first and second coupling means for fluidtight flow communication therebetween without altering the said stationary position of said first coupling means.
 46. The apparatus of claim 45 and force transmitting means engageable with said second coupling means and said end of said flowline for said pivoting thereof.
 47. The apparatus of claim 45 in which said flowline comprises pipe sections connected by flexible joints to reduce the resistance of said coaxial alignment of said second coupling means.
 48. The apparatus of claim 47 in which said flexible joints comprise ball and socket means adapted to limit coaxial nonalignment of adjacent said pipe sections to an amount small enough to allow passage of in-line flow tools.
 49. The apparatus of claim 47 in which said flexible joints are adapted to prevent axial rotation of adjacent pipe sections relative to each other.
 50. The apparatus of claim 49 in which said flexible joints comprise ball and socket means, said ball and socket means being provided with key and key slot means for said prevention of relative axial rotation of said adjacent pipe sections. 